Submersible bell for lifting submerged objects



June 29, 1954 1- E 2,682,246

SUBMERSIBLE BELL FOR LIF'IING SUBMERGED OBJECTS Filed Feb. 16 1951 2 Shee ts-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. P41. P 7. B55 7:

R. T. BEST June 29, 1954 SUBMERSIBLE BELL FOR LIFTING SUBMERGED OBJECTS Filed Feb. 16 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F76. .ZO

I INVENTOR. dlpf/ 77 (9557, BY yfz'mflwmz 0m Patented June 29, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v SUBMERSIBLE BELL FOR LIFTING SUBMERGED OBJECTS Ralph T. Best, Canton, Ohio Application February 16, 1951, Serial No. 211,250

3 Claims.

This invention relates to pontoons for raising submerged objects, and more particularly to a includes a detachable reinforcing structure that can be removed when the pontoons are nested together for storage; which may include means for attaching it to the side of a submerged ship or boat hull; and which is strong and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and easy to transport and use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a pontoon illustrative of the invention shown attached to the side of a ship hull diagrammatically illustrated in cross-section;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1, but with the pontoon shown in lifting position and having parts broken away and shown in cross-section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the pontoon illustrated in Fgures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a somewhat modified form of pontoon;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line II of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view on the line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line I0Ill of Figure 7 and Figure 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Figure 7, but showing a number of pontoons nested together for storage.

With continued reference to the drawings, and particularly to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the pontoon therein illustrated comprises a hollow body I0 of substantially square cross-sectional shape and having a length greater than its maximum, transverse dimension. This body has a side wall which may be formed of four pieces Illa, Illb, I00 and "id, of suitable sheet material, such as boiler plate, welded or otherwise secured together along abutting edges to provide a body of square or rectangular cross-sectional shape. One end of the body is to the side wall plates.

2 open, and a flat end wall I I closes the other end of the side wall of the body. This end wall has a substantially perpendicularly extending marginal flange I2 which is disposed within the side wall of the body at the corresponding end of the latter and welded or otherwise permanently secured The end wall may also comprise a piece of boiler plate of suitable thickness having the flange l2 upset thereon. The end wall or plate II is disposed somewhat inwardly of the adjacent ends of the side wall plate, as particularly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, to provide a protective rim or flange I3 projecting outwardly of the end wall.

A cable attaching eye I4 is secured to the end wall I I and projects outwardly of the outer side of II and projects outwardly of the outer side of the end wall for attaching one end of a cable I5 to the pontoon for raising and lowering the pon toon, and a manually operated valve I6 is secured in the end wall II ata location spaced from the eye I4 for controlling the flow of air out of the hollow body of the pontoon.

The body I0 is tapered from its open end to its closed end, so that a number of these hollow pontoon bodies can be nested together for convenience in storage and transportation, and can be removed, one at a time, from their nested condition, as used.

A reinforcing structure I! surrounds the side wall of the body at the larger, open end of the body, and, in this form of the invention, may comprise four lengths of channel iron disposed with the outer sides of their web portions against the outer sides of the side wall plates of the body, and with one flange flush with the edges of the corresponding side wall plates at the open end of the body. These lengths of channel iron are welded together at their abutting ends and are also welded to the side wall plates to permanently secure the reinforcing structure to the open end of the body. Angular gusset plates I8 are secured to the reinforcing structure at the corners thereof by suitable means, such as rivets I9, to further reinforce the structureand to prevent distortion of the shape of the open end of the pontoon body.

Apertured lugs 20 are secured to one of the channel iron members at spaced apart locations along such member and are disposed between and substantially perpendicular to the flanges of the member to which they are secured.

Suitable strands, such as the chains 2I, are secured one to each of the lugs 20, each chain being secured at one end to the corresponding lug and extending therefrom.

A channel iron guide 22 extends medially of the outer side of the end wall II from the side wall plate Illc adjacent the lugs 20 to the opposite side wall plate Illa and is disposed substantially perpendicular to these side wall plates. This guide is firmly secured, as by welding, to the end Wall and to the side wall plates at its opposite end, and has its open side facing another of the side wall plates of the body. The side wall plate I adjacent the lugs is apertured at the adjacent end of the guide 22, and a bar 23 of square or rectangular cross-sectional shape is extended through the aperture 24 in the side wall plate I00 and is slidably received in the guide 22. The bar 23 and the web of the guide 22 are provided with apertures which are in registry at various predetermined positions of the bar longitudinally of the guide, and bolts 25 extend through the registering apertures in the bar and the guide to secure the bar to the guide in selected positions of longitudinal adjustment relative thereto.

The end of the bar 23 projecting outwardly of the apertured side wall plate Inc is pointed, as indicated at 26, and adjacent this pointed end the bar is provided with a transversely extending slot 21 and with mutually registering apertures in its portions at respectively oppositesides of the slot.

An arm 28 extends through the slot 2'! in the bar 23 and is provided at its mid-length location with a laterally projecting apertured lug or eye formation 29 and a pivot pin 30 extends through the apertures in the bar and through the apertured eye formation 29 to pivotally secure the arm at its mid-length location to the bar 23. At its opposite ends the arm 28 is provided with arbor 4 portions 3| and 32 of reduced diameter, and abutment plates 33 and 34 are pivotally mounted one on each of these arbors.

Each of these abutment plates is of rectangular cross-sectional shape and has a sleeve formation, as indicated at 35 and 36, respectively, extending thereacross at its mid-length location and rotatably receiving the corresponding arbor on the arm 28.

In attaching this pontoon to a ship or boat hull, suitable eyes or lugs 31 connected one to each chain at the ends of the chains remote from the lugs 26, are secured to the wall '38 of the boat hull near the bottom of the hull, as is particularly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

In the arrangement illustrated there are five chains 2! spaced apart at substantially equal intervals along the corresponding channel member of the reinforcing structure 11, but it is to be understood that this number may be varied to suit different operating conditions without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

When the lugs 31 have been attached to the wall of the boat hull, a vertically elongated slot 39 is provided in the hull wall above the center lug. At this point in the attachment the valve l 8 is closed and sufiicient air is supplied to the interior of the hollow body from a compressed air hose to cause the body to swing to a substantially upright position, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. As the body swings to its upright position, the pointed end 26 of the bar 23 is placed in the slot 39, and the abutment plates 33 and 34 are brought to bear against the outer side of the hull wall adjacent the slot in this wall.

A suitable number of the bell-type pontoons are connected to the outside of the submerged hull in the manner indicated above, and all brought to upright position, as illustrated in Figure l in which they are suspended from the hull by the corresponding chains 2|. After all of the pontoons have been attached, additional compressed air is supplied to the interiors ofall of the pontoons, preferably simultaneously, causing the pontoons to rise from the position illustrated in Figure 1 to that illustrated in Figure 2 in which the chains 2| are upwardly tensioned. The application of compressed air to the interior of the pontoon is continued until suiiicient lift is obtained to raise the submerged hull. When the pontoons have risen substantially to the surface of the water or to the maximum height at which they will buoyantly support the hull, the hull may either be towed to a predetermined destination, or, if desired, a submergable dry dock may be placed under the hull and the hull then floated in this dry dock to a location where it can be dismantled or repaired.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure-s 6 to 10, inclusive, the hollow body 40 is of substantially circular cross-sectional shape and has an annular side wall 41 of a length materially greater than its maximum diameter and tapering from one end to the other, so that a number of these pontoons can be nested together for convenience in transportation and storage, as particularly illustrated in Figure 11.

The smaller end of the body 40 is closed by a domed end wall 42 having a marignal flange 43 received within the side wall 4| at the smaller end of the side wall and permanently secured to the side wall by welding or other suitable means.

A cable attaching eye 44 is secured to the end wall 42 and projects outwardly from the outer side of the end wall for the attachment of a cable 45 to the pontoon for raising and lowering the pontoon, and a manually controlled valve '46 is secured in the end wall 42 for controlling the flow of air out of the hollow body.

An annular reinforcing structure 41 of channel-shaped cross-section surrounds and is secured to the side wall 4| at the larger end of the body, with its flanges projecting outwardly from the body, and one of its flanges substantially flush with the adjacent edge of the side wall. Apertured lugs 48 are secured to the reinforcing structure 47 at angular intenvals therearound, and each of these lugs is disposed substantially perpendicular to the web and to both flanges of the channel-shaped reinforcing structure. In the arrangement illustrated there are four lugs 48 spaced apart at angular intervals of substantially but the number of lugs used and their spacing may be varied without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

This form of the invention also includes an inner reinforcing structure 50 comprising a ring 5! of channel-shaped cross-section, and crossbars 52 and 53 extending diametrically of the ring 5| at right angles to each other and having their opposite ends secured to the ring.

The inner reinforcing structure 50 is secured in the open end of the hollow body 40 by bolts '54 extending through registering apertures in the ring 5|, the side wall 4i and the outer, annular reinforcing structure 41, these bolts being spaced apart at angular intervals around the reinforcing structure as illustrated in Figure 6. Between the bolts 54 the ring 5! of the inner reinforcing structure is provided with tapped holes and set screws 55 are threaded through these holes and bear against the inner side of the side wall 4| to space the inner reinforcing structure circumferentially from the inner surface of the side wall 4| at the open end of the pontoon body 40.

The inner reinforcing structure, when secured in the open end of the body with the set screws 55 properly adjusted, supports the open end of the pontoon body against distortion when'subjected to lifting force.

Suitable strands, such as the cables 56, are connected one to each of the lugs 48 each at one end thereof, and may be connectedat their other ends to an object to be raised, such as that indicated at 51.

When the pontoons are nested, as illustrated in Figure 11, the inner reinforcing structures are removed from all except the bottom pontoon, and these structures may be stacked one upon the other in a space saving arrangement.

It is contemplated that this modified form of pontoon will be used mainly for lifting separate objects, such as spars, anchors and cargo crates or packages, to lighten a submerged hull preliminary to raising the hull, and also to assist the hull raising pontoons when necessary. In using the modified pontoons, the pontoon may be lowered into the water with the valve 46 open, so that the air in the pontoon will escape and the pontoon will sink of its own Weight. When the pontoon has been lowered to a location adjacent the object to be raised, the cables 56 are attached to the object and the valve 46 closed. An air hose 58 is then brought to a location adjacent the pontoon and an angularly bent pipe 59 secured to the end of the air hose is inserted into the pontoon and a valve 60 in the pipe opened to admit compressed air to the interior of the pontoon body. The pontoon will first swing to an upright position and, as its compressed air content is increased, will rise in the water carrying the attached object with it.

The invention may be embodied in. other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A bell type pontoon for raising submerged hulls comprising a hollow body having a side wall and an end wall secured to said side wall at one end of the latter and closing the upper end of said body, a reinforcing structure surrounding said body at the lower open end thereof and secured to said side wall, means secured to said reinforcing structure and extending therefrom for connecting the bottom end of said pontoon to a submerged hull, means providing a guideway extending across said end wall medially of the width of the end wall and having an open end disposed above said means for connecting the bottom end. of said pontoon to a submerged hull, a bar slidably mounted in said guideway for movements of adjustment longitudinally thereof and projecting at one end outwardly of the side wall of said body, means securing said bar to said end wall at selected extents of projection of said one end of said bar outwardly of said side wall, said one end of said bar being insertable into a slot cut in a submerged hull to which said body is connected, and plate means movably mounted on said bar near said one end of the bar and adapted to bear against a hull into which said one end of the bar is inserted.

2. A bell type pontoon for raising submerged hulls comprising a hollow body having a side wall and an end wall secured to said side wall at one end of the latter and closing the upper end of said body. a reinforcing structure sur- The present rounding said body at the lower open end thereof and secured to said side wall, means secured to said reinforcing structure and extending therefrom for connecting the bottom end of said pontoon to a submerged hull, means providing a guideway extending across said end wall medially of the width of the end wall and having a open end disposed above said means for connecting the bottom end of said pontoon to submerged hull, a bar slidably mounted in said guideway for movements of adjustment longitudinally thereof and projecting at one end outwardly of the side wall of said body, means securing said bar to said end wall at selected extents of projection of said one end of said bar outwardly of said side wall, said one end of said bar being insertable into a slot cut in a submerged hull to which said body is connected, and plate means movably mounted on said bar near said one end of the bar and adapted to bear against a hull into which said one end of the bar is inserted, said body being of rectangular cross. sectional shape with said one end of said bar projecting from one side thereof, and said means for connecting the bottom end of said pontoon to a submerged hull comprising chains secured to said body at the side thereof from which said bar projects and at 10- cations spaced apart along the bottom edge of said side.

3. A bell type pontoon for raising submerged hulls comprising a hollow body having a side wall and an end wall secured to said side wall at one end of the latter and closing the upper end of said body, a reinforcing structure surrounding said body at the lower open end thereof and secured to said side wall, means secured to said reinforcing structure and extending therefrom for connecting the bottom of said pontoon to a submerged hull, means providing a guideway extending across said end wall medially of the width of the end wall and having an open end disposed above said means for connecting the bottom end of said pontoon to a submerged hull, a bar slidably mounted in said guideway for movements of adjustment longitudinally thereof and projecting at one end outwardly of the side Wall of said body, means securing said bar to said end wall at selected extents of projection of said one end of said bar outwardly of said side wall, said one end of said bar being insertable into a slot cut in a submerged hull to which said body is connected, and plate means movably mounted on said bar near said one end of the bar and adapted to bear against a hull into which said one end of the bar is inserted, said plate means comprising an arm pivotally mounted interme-; diate its length on said bar and extending above and below said bar, and plates mounted on said arm one above and one below said bar for turning movements about said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 148,714 Knapp Mar. 17, 1874 517,630 Taylor 1. Apr. 3, 1894 1,250,787 Breault Dec. 18

1,253,526 Portella Jan. 15, 1918 1,367,250 Gray Feb. 1, 1921 1,400,316 Reno Dec. 13, 1921 1,821,320 Plummer Sept. 1, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 198.377 Great Britain Jan. 31, 1924 

